The purpose of this study is to determine whether a novel placebo for comparison to spinal manipulation is believable and creates similar expectation for treatment effectiveness as the studied spinal manipulation technique. Additionally, we wish to compare outcomes related to low back pain, function, and pain sensitivity between people receiving the placebo, spinal manipulation, and no therapy.

Assess whether or not participants receiving the placebo are blinded to the fact they are receiving the placebo as indicated by the percentage of participants in each arm of the study believing they received SMT

how helpful participants expect the assigned intervention will be in decreasing their low back pain

Change From Baseline at 2 Weeks in Clinical Pain as Measured by a Numeric Rating Scale [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline at 2 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

A 101 point numeric rating scale with 0= no pain at all to 100= worst pain imaginable of low back pain

Change From Baseline at 2 Weeks in Disability as Measured by the Oswestry Disability Index [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline at 2 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The Oswestry Disability Index is a 10 item questionnaire measuring low back pain related disability. Individual item scores range from 0 to 5. Scores on all items are summed and multiplied by 2 to provide a percentage ranging between 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating greater low back pain related disability.

Change in Pain Sensitivity From Baseline to Immediately Following the Assigned Intervention as Measured by a Visual Analog Scale [ Time Frame: baseline and immediately following their assigned intervention during the initial session ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Participants received a standard thermal stimulus to the bottom of their foot prior to and immediately following their assigned intervention. Participants rated their pain in response to this thermal stimulus using a 101 mm visual analog scale with 0 mm indicating "no pain at all" and 100 mm indicating "the worst pain imaginable".

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Change From Baseline at 2 Weeks in Low Back Flexion Range of Motion [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline at 2 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Low back flexion range of motion was measured in degrees using a gravity inclinometer

Change From Baseline at 2 Weeks in Low Back Extension Range of Motion [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline at 2 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Low back extension range of motion was measured in degrees using a gravity inclinometer

Change From Baseline at 2 Weeks in Low Back Right Sidebending Range of Motion [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline at 2 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Low back right sidebending range of motion was measured in degrees using a gravity inclinometer

Change From Baseline at 2 Weeks in Low Back Left Sidebending Range of Motion [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline at 2 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Low back left sidebending range of motion was measured in degrees using a gravity inclinometer

a sham spinal manipulation intended to mimic the studied spinal manipulation and provided with the instructions, "The manual therapy technique you will receive has been shown to significantly reduce low back pain in some people"

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 60 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

currently experiencing low back pain which does not extend below the knees

rate the low back pain as a minimum of 4/10 at worst over the past 24 hours

appropriate for conservative management of low back pain

english speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

surgery to the low back over the past 6 months

systemic disease known to effect sensation

other chronic pain condition unrelated to low back pain

fracture as a cause of low back pain

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01168999